Lubricating mechanism for gear-cutting machines



S. H. EARL LUBRICATING MECHANI SM FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINE April 13,1926. 1,580,712

Filed Oct. 4, 1924 S Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1331926. 1,580,712

S. H. EARL LUBRI C A TI NG MECHANISM FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Filed 00%. 1924 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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April 13 1926. 0 1,580,712

' s. H. EARL LUBRIG ATING MECHANISM FOR GEAR CUTTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 4,, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 13, 19.26.

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SGHUYLER H.'EARL, on nocrrnsrnn, new YORK, ASSIGNOR To GLEASON WORKS, or

nocnnsrnn, NEW YORK, A conronarron or NEW YORK.

LUBRICATING MECHANESM FOR GEAR-CUTTING MACHINES.

Application filed Gotober 4, 1924:. Serial No. 741,583.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Sorrurrnr. H. EARL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Mon- 5 rec and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubricating Mechanism for Gear Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

on gear cutting machines and more particularly relates to a lubricating system in which those movements of the machlne required 111 obtaining-the desired tooth form are employed to eifect lubrication of the moving parts.

In machines of this general type, it has, heretofore, been impractical to effect the automatic lubrication of all the moving parts and for such parts as can not be lubricated oil cups are generally provided which it is intended shall be periodically refilled by the operator. The refilling of such cups is often neglectedhowever, with injurious et- TEGCtS to the parts moving without lubri cation.

The primary object of my invention, then, is to provide mechanism which may be used alone or in conjunction with other mechanism to render possible full automatic lubrication of the machine; and aoturther purpose is to provide lubricating mechanism which will be 5 characterized by a minimum of parts, which will be simple and etlicient in operation, and

of the requisite strength.

A particular embodiment of the invention is descriltied'in the following specification and illustrated in the accom 'iauying drawings, it being specifically understood, however, that my invention is not restricted to the particular mechanism illustrated and described, but is capable oi? modification within the scope of the invention and with- I" u v I I 1n the limits of the accompanying claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a. plan view, with the parts broken away, of a gear cutting machine, equipped with the lubricating mechanisin. o" n'ly iiivn li'blig c, x Fig. 9. is a section on the lint-5 Q Q b? il a a ha i Fig. 3 is-an end elevationof the index head with the cover removed;

Fig. i is a section on the'line l4.- of Fig. 1;, f

Fig. 5 is a detail;

Fig.6 is an enlarged detail view otthe bearing tace of the cradle; and

Fig. 7 is air-enlarged detail of the end faced the cradle. This invention relates to lubricating sys terns, especially such as are adapted for use While the invention is applicable to gear cutting machines of various types, involving different forms of tool mechanism and employing different relative motions between the tool and bl ank to olbtain the desired tooth form, it is particularly pertinent to machinery in which the gear blank partakes of both a rotary motion aboutits own axis as well as a bodily movement so as. to roll the blank 0n the tool during the cutting operation in the manner of a blank rolling on a crown gear, and it is in connection with such a machine that the invention is herein illustrated and described. 7

Referring to the drawings: by numerals of reference, I have shown a gear cutting machine provided with a frame 1 on whichis slidably mounted the tool head 2 carrying a planer tool 3. At one end the frame is provided withan upright portion 4 in which a cradle 5 oscillates. The-means for 0scillating the cradle may be of any desired form. As shown a lever o is employed, which is pivoted at one end to the frame and at its other end to an extensible link 7, and is provided intermediate its ends with a roller 8 which travels in the groove of a cam Movements oi": the lever 6 serve, through the lever 7 and link 10, to oscillate the cradle;

the cradle oscillates. The reservoir 11 may be periodically filled by the operator or preferably will be kept at a constant level by the pumpin mechanism usually employed in machines of the character described,

Tire-1 raring faces' ofthe cradle which vi ayl it "time gi'n tion 4 are Hill formed with V-shaped grooves which serve to distril'aute the lubricant over said faces and the cradle itself is formed with a bore 1% adapted to register with the bore 12 in predetermined positions of the cradle movements and to conduct lubricant from the reservoir to the parts carried by the cradle.

Mounted on the cradle, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is the base 15 which is adjustable on the cradle and which may be secured in any adjusted position thereon by means of T bolts which are e11- gaged in grooves 16 of the cradle. Rotatably mounted on the base is a sleeve 17 to which is attached the gear segment 18 which, is adapted to roll on a gear segment 19, which is secured to the frame. The gear blank 20 is mounted on a spindle 21 which is normally locked to the sleeve 17, butwhich is capable of rotating relatively to such sleeve. The movement. of the cradle will cause rotation of the spindle 21 about its axis, so that the gear blank is given a combined movement in the manner ot' a blank rolling upon a crown gear, as is common in this art.

A flexible tube 22 serves to conduct the lubricant from the bore 141 to the parts mounted upon the cradle. Diiliculty heretoit'ore has been experienced in lubricating certain of the cradle parts, such as the indexing mechanism, because there was not sufficient pressure to carry the oil to these parts against the action of gravity. To overcome this difficulty, I propose to provide the machine with suitable mechanism for automatically pumping the oil conducted to the cradle to those parts and actuate said automatic mechaism by the movements of the parts themselves.

As shown, the lubricant is conducted from the tube 22 through the bore 23 whence it serves to lubricate the'sleeve 1.7 and from the bore 23 through the bore 21. to bore 25 formed in a plate 26, which is adjustably secured to the base 15, whence it is conducted through a bore 27 to a pocket or reservoir 28 which is aligned with a bore 29 in which reciproeates a plunger 30. A one-way valve comprising the ball 31 normally closes the pocket This valve is opened on the upstroke of the plunger by suetioii and the oil drawn from the pocket into the chamber On the down-stroke oi the plunger, ball 31 is closed and the Oll forced from the chanr ber 32 through the bore and the pipe Set to the upper part oi? the cradle. whence it is distrilnited by gravity from the discharge pipe 35 over the indexing parts. A one way valve comprising the ball 36 serves to prevent any of the oil from running back through the bore 33 into the chamber For actuating the plunger, 1 preferably employ means adapted to be operated by movement of the parts of the cradle. 1n the embodiment of the invention shown, this means .includes a lever 37 secured to a rock shaft 38, to which is connected at one end a lever 39 having a slot-and-pin connection -10 with the plunger 30. The lever 37 is actuated once in each roll of the blank by contact oi the lever -11 therewith. This lever ll forms a part of the indexing mechanism of the machine and is mounted on an arm which is carried by the sleev 17 nd serves normally to lock the blank spindle to the sleeve so that the sleeve and spindle rotate together.

lVhile I have chosen preferably a portion of the indexing mechanism to actuate the pump, the particular indexing mechanism itself forms no part of my invention. This mechanism is similar to that described in the co-pending application of ames E. Gleason, George H. Bryan, Eyvind Finsen and Alton P. Slade, Serial No. 715,390, filed May 192i, and reference may he had to such a pplication for a more detailed description thereof.

For a ready understanding of the work ing oi thismechanism, however, a brief. description is given here:

The lever ll which is mounted on the arm 42 carried by the sleeve 17 to which is keyed the gear segment 18. This lever 4-1 is provided with a dog 43 which engages seleetively notches in the index plate 4 1, which is secured to the blank spindle 21. A spring-pressed plunger 25 serves to normally retain the dog v43 in engagement with the notch in the index plate, thus normally locking the spindle to the sleeve so as to rotate therewith.

During the turning movement 01 the sleeve 17 caused by the rotation of the segment 18 on the stationary segment 19, the tail piece of the lever 1-1 will engage a relatively stationary abutment 46 and thus cause the rear end of the lever to be depressed, moving the dog 43 out oi. engagement with the index plate. Further movement 01'. the arm 4-2 causes the segment 47 to engage a stationary tooth 48, thus rocking the scgment 4:7 and the rock shalt 49 to which the segment 4-? is secured. A second segmentto is attached to the same rock shaft and engages and turns the segment 51 on the collar 52 which carries a pawl 53 so that, as the collar 52 rotates, the pawl 53 engages the ratchet wheel 5'37 secured to the blank iindle and rotates the same one tooth space. A spring 54 norn'ially moves the pawl 53 into operative position and a cam surface 55 on the lever 4-1 engages a roller 56 carried by one end of the pawl to hold the pawl out of operative position during cutting against action of the spring.

As Will be obvious from the description.

.given, as the cradle 5 oscillates oil is con ducted from the reservoir 11 in the frame to the pocketQS in the plate 26, whence it position to force the oil from the cham ber 32 by gravity, though if desired a spring or any suitable mechanical means may be attached for this purpose to the levers 37 and 39 or directly to the plunger itself.

\Vhile I have illustrated a particular em bodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that I do not desire to be restricted to the specific mechanism shown as the improv'ements for forcing the oil to the moving parts may be of any desired type within the limits of my invention, and as said improvements may be controlled automatically by movement of any of the machine parts in the operation of the machine. So while I have shown and described my invention as applied to gear cutting machines of the generating type, in which a planer tool is employed, it is to be understood that the invention may be used on other types of generating machines and in some aspects on machines of the non-generating type also, and that the tool mechanism may involve a grinding member or any other suitable type of cutter.

Moreover, where the invention is employed on machines of the generating type, it is to be understood that either the tool or the blank may partake Wholly of the gen erating roll or that the roll may, in part, be applied to each.

I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with tool and gear blank sup ports, means for rolling the tool and blank relatively to each other to produce a generated tooth profile, lubricating mechanism, and devices whereby said relative rolling movement automatically efliects operation or": the lubricating mechanism at predetermined intervals.

2. In a machine -for producing gears, the combination with tool and gear blank supports, of a movable bed on which one or said supports is mounted, means adapted to move said support relative to the bed on movement of said bed, lubricating mechanism including means whereby the relative movement between the blank support and movable bed afiords power for forcing the lubricant to said support at predetern'iined intervals.

3. In a machine for producing gears, the combination with tool. and gear blank supports, of a movable bed on which one of said supports is mounted, means adapted to rotate said support on movement of said bed,

lubricating mechanism, and devices carried partially by said supportand partially by said movable bed and acting to positively and automatically effect lubrication of the parts of the machine when the movable bed reaches a predetermined position.

4:- In a machine for producing gears, the combination with tool and gear blank supports, of a movable bed on which one of said supports is mounted, means adapted to rotate said support on movement of said bed, lubricating mechanism, and devices carried partially by said support and partially by the movable bed and acting to positively and automatically efiect lubrication of the parts of the machine when said support reaches a predetermined position.

5. In a machine for producing gears, the combination with tool and gear blank supports, of a movable bed on which one of said supports is mounted, means for moving said support on movement of said bed,

luln'icating mechanism, and devices adapted to be actuated by tl e means for moving the support to positively and automatically efiect lubricatum of the machine at prede termined intervals.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with tool mechanism, of a gear blank support, a movable bed, on which the blank support is mounted, means adapted to rotate said support on movement of the bed, lubricating mechanism, indexing mechanism for the blank support, and cooperating devices carried by the indexing mechanism and bed and adapted to effect lubrication of the support at predetermined intervals.

7. In a machine 01 the class described, the combination with a frame provided with a reservoir, of a bed movable in the frame and a support mounted on said bed, of means on the bed adapted on movement of the bed in one direction to conduct a lubricant from said reservoir to a second reservoir carried by the bed, means for rotating said support on movement of said bed, and devices whereby rotation of said support automatically atl'ords the power to force the lubricant from said second reservoir at a predetermined position in the movement of said bed.

3. In a machine of the class de. cribed, the con'ibination with. a frame provided with a reservoir, tool and gear blank supports, a bed movably mounted on the frame and adapted to carry one oi said supports, means for rotating said support, means adapted on movement of said zed in one direction to conduct lubricant from said reservoir to a second reservoir, indexing mechanism for said support, and cooperating devices carried by the indexing mechanism and the bed operating to automatically fprce a lubricant from the second reservoir to the machine parts at predetermined intervals.

9. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with tool mechanism and a support therefor, 0t gear blank support and 2i bed on which one of said supports is mounted, lubricating mechanism carried by said bed, means for'inoving the support relatively to the bed, a spindle rotatably niounted on the support, means for locking the spindle and support so as to normally move together; means for releasing said locking means toperinit indexing of the spindle, and 10 cooperating devices on said locking means and bed adaptedat predetermined intervals to actuate saidlul'iricating inechzinisin.

In. Witness, whereof, I have hereunto set my signature.

SGHUYLER H. EARL. 

